Btirne



A. W. LIGHTBURNE. FLYlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 001.30. 1912.

Patented Dec. 23, M19.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. vvfuemBu mE.

FLYING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED bCT- 30 191]- mmmm Patented Dec. 23,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- STATES PATENT OFFICE AL'VAN W. LIGI-ITBURNE, F LIBERTY; MNSUUM.

FLYING-MACHHIE.

L329 t I tpeclficatton'of Letters ratent.

Fatente peace. iaie.

Application filed ootohei' 3t), 1917. Serial lilo. 199,343.

BURNE, a citizen of the United States, resid-' ing at Liberty, in the county of Clay, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a full and exact specification. l

The present invention relates to aeronautics, and one of the objects'in view is to provide a flying machine construction involving a novel and improved propelling means comprising revolvlng vanes operating about axes at each side of the machine, with each vane also oscillating about an individual axis for varying its efi'ective operative surface as its position changes during each revolution.

It is also an object to devise a construction of this character in which means is provided for convenient adjustment of the operative relation of the several vanes for the purpose of regulating the normal lifting and propelling force of the same.

It is also sought to provide a propelling and lifting construction of the type described together with a centrally mounted propeller member with drive connections thereto having provision for reversing-the motion of the latter propeller member.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel arrangement of elevating planes having means for operating the same in a manner adaptedto afford a secondary rudder action for steering the movement of the machine; and a further object is to devise an improved arrangement of connections for'controlling the action of the main rudder member of the machine.

With these principal objects in view as wellfj'as minor objects as will appear in the course" of the detailed description, the inltd tilt

vention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawin s illus-' trating one form of construction which has been evised for embodying the improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be set forth and particularly defined in the appended claims. lln the drawings Figure 1 's a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same with parts of the rear planes slightly broken.

away to show the rear elevating planes;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 4': is a section on the line 4% of 1g. 5 1s a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the revolving vanes together with the cam means for oscillating the same;

Fig. 7 is a section takenon the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view illustrating one of theca-m members in relation to one of the flyin vanes, the dotted lines representing the changed position of the vane as it traverses the cam-way;

Fig. 9 isv an enlarged developed plan view of the cam member;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line l0-10 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a ((zilutch mechanism hereinafter described; an

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail elevation of the clutch element and shifter.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the framework or fuselage of the machine is designated generally by the numeral 1t. Carried at each of the opposite sides of said framework it is a normally fixedshaft 16 extending longitudinally of the machine and designed for the sup ort of the plurality-of revolving vanes 8 which are arranged in sets of preferably four number, extending radially outward from the shaft and ninety degrees apart. The vanes are mounted upon the shaft by means of sectional bearing housins 20 secured together in alinement by bots 22 and formed with bearings 24- for spindles 26 provlded at the heads of the vanes 18. Each spindle 26 terminates in acrank 28 having a projection 30 for traveling in a cam groove 32 formed in a cam member 34, of which there is one to each set of vanes, said cam meme bers being fixed to-the shafts l6 and housed within the housing sections 20. The outline 7 it: vanebeing maintained at about it'fdegrees angle to that at either side of it, and at angles to the vane directly opposite,

till

hill

on the other side of the shaft (see Fig. 7). Accordingly, with this arrangement, and with the vanes timed for bringing them into exactly horizontal position as they pass downward through horizontal, they operate with maximum efliciency as regards lifting power; and as they pass upward throug horizontal on the opposite or inner side of the shaft the vanes are then traveling with the planes of the vane blades exactly vertical, with a minimum of resistance to the air,-it being understood that the vanes are so oscillated that in their intermediate positions they effect a combined lifting and propelling action as said vanes are revolved about the shafts.

' Means is also providedfor regulating the position of the shafts 16 and said cam members 34 for varying the angle at which the vanes 18 shall pass through horizontal. Thisregulatirg means comprises a segment 36 secured to one end of each shaft 16 adja cent to the .framework 14, and a pin 38 "actuated by a spring '40 into engagement with any one of the openings 42 of said segment, the pins 38 being mounted in brackets 44 fixed to said framework (see Figs. 3 and 10). By swinging the segments laterally and thereby partially rotating the shafts and the cam members 34, and securing the segments in adjusted position by means of the pins 38, it will be seenthat the revolution of the vanes may be so timed as to bring them into horizontal position with the planes of the vane blades at more or less of an angle to the horizontal, with the result that a proportionately lessened area of the vanes is operative for lifting as they pass through horizontal.

In the construction shown by the drawings, the vanes are arranged in two groups on each of the shafts 16, each group being provided with separate driving means consisting of chains 50 operating over sprocket wheels 52 secured to the sectional housings 20. The 'chains 50 are also carried over driving sprocket wheels 54 mounted in pairs, one pair upon a short shaft 56 and the other pair upon a shaft 58 extending parallel to the shaft 56 and in line with the shaft 60 of an engine 62 carried within the framework 14, the shaft 58 being operatively connected to said engine shaftand also connected with the shaft 56 through gears 64 and 66. By this means the shafts 56 and 58 are driven in opposite directions for driving the shafts 16 also in opposite directions in the manner necessary for actuating the flying vanes downward through their paths outside the frame 14.

A tubular propeller shaft 68 is also adapted to be driven from the shaft 58, the said shaft 68 being carried by the frame work 14 in line with the shaft 58 and fitting over the end of the latter (see Fig. 11)., and

the front end of the shaft 68 carries a rotating propeller member 70 slightly in advance of the foremost set of flying vanes 18. The shafts 58 and 68 are operatively connected within a gear cage 72, where a clutch element 74 iskeyed slidingly upon the shaft 68 and adapted to be shifted into engagement with. either a gear 76 secured to the shaft 58 or with a gear 80 loosely mounted on the shaft 68. Obviously if the clutch element 74 is clutched with the gear 76 the .shaft 68 will be driven directly and in the' same direction as the shaft 58, but if clutched with the gear 80 it will be driven in the opposite direction through the train of reversing gears 82, 84 and 86 in a manner which will be readily understood, the gears 82 and 84 being mounted on the same shaft 88 with the gear 82 in mesh with the gear 76, and the gear 84 in mesh with the intermediate gear 86 carried by a stud90 and in its turn meshing with the gear 80. The clutch element 74 is shifted by means of a lever 92 pivoted at 94 to a bracket 96 and provided with spring elements 98 (see Fig.

12) for engagement with lugs 100 projecting from opposite sides of a yoke collar 102 carried by the clutch element 74, whereby the latter is yieldi'ngly actuated into its clutching relation with either of the gears 7 6 and 80. With this arrangement of drive, the propeller member 70 may be driven direct from the shaft 58 for imparting to said member 70 a normal forward-propelling movement; or said propeller member may be quickly stopped and also reversed by shifting of the lever 92 at any time that it may be desired to check or counteract the action of the flying vanes 18 and thus check the forward movement of the machine by means of this construction.

Triangular planes 104 and 106 are carried by the framework and at the rear of the flying vanes 18, and similarly formed planes 108 and 110 are carried by said framework at the front of the vanes 18 for acting as elevating planes. In the case of the planes 108 and 110, these are positioned side by side with their outer edges hinged to the framework as shown at 112 (see Figs. 1 and 2), and at their inner margins said planes are connected to rods 114 operated by levers 116 mounted on the framework 14 and working along rack segments 118. The connections 120 at the opposite ends of said rods 114 are of ball and socket form to permit the necessary angular movement of the rods, the operation of the levers serving to swing said planes independently about their hinge mountings and effecting a rudder-like action as well as elevating action of the planes, as occasion may require.

Rear elevating planes 121 are also provided beneath the planes 104 and 106, respectively, the same being hinged at their till front margins to the framework 14 and provided with crank elements 123 connected by rods 125 to operating levers 127.

The usual type of main lateral steering rudder 122 is provided at the rear of the machine and pivoted upon vertical shaft 129 having a worm gear 124 (see Figs. 1 and 4) secured to the lower end thereof. An

operating shaft 126 is carried longitudinally of the frame and provided at its rear end with a worm 128 in mesh with said gear 124. The opposite end of said shaft carries a bevel gear 130 in mesh with a similar gear 132 secured to the lower end of a steering shaft 134. This provides a convenient and eflicient operating means for controlling the rear rudder from the operators seat 136,in which connection it may be mentioned that all the manual operating elements are located in position for convenient manipulation from this point.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a comparatively simple and efficient arrangement and construction have been devised for carrying out the desired objects of the invention, the operation of which will be sufficiently clear from the above description without requiring an extended detail explanation. A. brief summary, however, of the same may be given. The flying vanes 18 are driven from the engine through the driv chains 50, the sets of vanes atthe opposite sides of the machine being re volved in opposite directions, and the action of the cam elements 34 is such as to oscillate said vanes and cause them to assume horizontal position as they pass downward through the horizontal plane intersecting the shaft 16, and to assume vertical position as they pass upward through said plane at the opposite side of said shaft; and intermediate said positions the' vanes are alter; nately oscillated back and forth to effect the proper propeller action, all of which will be clearly understood by reference to F ig. 7 of the drawings. Tn case, however, it should be desired not to exert the full lifting force of said vanes .as they pass through horizontal position, the desired result may be obtained by simple adjustment of the pins 38 intothe proper openings 42 of the segments 36, whereby the shaft 16 and cam elements 34 are partially rotated and the oscillation f of the vanes timed to bring the latter into planes coinciding with the shaft at some interval either earlier or later than that at which theypass through the horir wntal. By this arrangement a simple and readily controlled and easily adjusted construction is obtained for accomplishing these various functions. The proor quickly reversed at any time that it may be desired to rapidly check the forward movement of the machine. Tt will. be

further understood that the planes 108 and 110 perform all the functions of elevating.

planes, and by the peculiar mounting of the same and connections for shifting them they may be conveniently operated to exert a rudder action to a certain extent for controlling the steering movements of the machine.

While T have illustrated and described what is now thought to constitute the preferred form of mbodiment of the improvements, the right is reserved to all such for mal changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What T claim is:

1. Tn a flying machine, the combination of the frame, a shaft extending longitudinally at each side of said frame, a plurality of revolving vanes carried by each of said shafts and arranged in sets with the vanes of each set extending in different radial positions with respect to the axes of said shafts, means for revolving said vanes about the axes of said shafts, a cam member 'carried by said shafts for each of said sets of vanes and operating to severally oscillate said vanes about individual axes at right angles to and intersecting the axes of said shafts, and means for simultaneously adjusting the. cam members on each shaft for varying the angle at which said vanes pass through horizontal position.

2. A flying machine construction comprising a frame having a shaft extending longitudinally at each side thereof, a plurality of revolving vanes carried by each of said shafts and arranged in sets with the vanes of each set extending in different radial positions with respect to the axes of said shafts, means for revolving said vanes about the axes of said shafts, cam members fixedly secured to each of said'shafts, one of said cam members being associated with each of said sets'of vanes and operating to severally oscillate said vanes about individ ual axes at right angles to and intersecting the axes of said shafts, and means for rotatively adjusting each of said shafts for simultaneously adjusting the corresponding cam members and thereby varying the angle at which said vanes pass through horizontal position.

Tn witness whereof T affix my signature.

' ALVAN w. men'rnnnn'n.

rat 

